HCAOA members in Virginia are celebrating a legislative win. A bill signed by the governor eliminates the requirement that home care agencies conduct triennial audits. The chapter formed a work group to review proposed updates to the home care regulations, submitted comments to the Department of Health, and led the efforts to shepherd legislation to address concerns, including the audit.

​“This relief from an unnecessary and costly regulatory burden on small businesses is a real victory for Virginia home care agencies. We’re grateful to our legislators for seeing the common sense of this issue,” said Mitch Opalski, SYNERGY HomeCare in – Arlington and Alexandria, who led this advocacy effort.

To view the SB 580, click here. 

Virginia, historically reliant on the federal Fair Labor Standards Act to govern overtime obligations, passed its first standalone overtime law in March 2021. The Virginia Overtime Wage Act (VOWA) went into effect on July 1, 2021, amidst wide-spread confusion among Commonwealth employers over the law’s requirements.

While Virginia’s Department of Labor and Industry rolled out informal guidance to clarify employer obligations under the new law, that guidance did little to assuage employer concerns over the VOWA’s many ambiguities.
 
A year later, Virginia employers are being given a reprieve from the many compliance concerns and increased exposure to liability created by the 2021 law. On April 11, 2022, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed into law HB 1173 (SB 631), rolling back the provisions of the VOWA and realigning Virginia’s overtime obligations and exemptions with those of the federal FLSA. 

Read more.

In 2019, Connecticut enacted the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, which entitles eligible employees who reside in the state to paid family leave and amended the previously existing Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act (CT FMLA).
 
​Employers have long awaited guidance on the State’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, and the good news is—we are almost there. On March 22, 2022, the Connecticut Department of Labor issued its final proposed amended CT FMLA regulations, which make several amendments to previously existing regulations. The new provisions relate to the job-protected leave aspect of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. This article highlights key changes about which employers should be aware. Learn More

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has been reviewing the regulations that implement the Fair Labor Standard Act’s minimum wage and overtime exemptions for bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees. DOL announced it will hold additional virtual listening sessions in May and June for both worker and employer stakeholders. These sessions are organized by region.

Dates and times for each listening session are listed online. To participate, register here. These are public events.
 
If you have questions, send an email to OTSessionInquiries@dol.gov.
​
In this event notice, the agency seeks stakeholder input on issues such as:

• The appropriate salary level above which the exemptions for bona fide executive, administrative, or professional employees may apply.
• The costs and benefits of increasing the salary level to employers and employees, including increasing wages and reducing litigation costs.​
  
• The best methodology for updating the salary level, and the appropriate frequency of updates.
  
  

The Health Care Authority (HCA) learned from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the current COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has been extended through July 15, 2022. According to HHS’ letter to the Governors, the PHE may be extended in 90-day increments and HHS will provide states with 60 days’ notice prior to termination. HCA will continue to share updates as new information becomes available, and communicate to clients, partners, and stakeholders before any eligibility changes take place.

 What does this mean for Apple Health clients?
​Current Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) clients will not lose their coverage during the PHE unless they do not meet residency, citizenship or immigration requirements, or request closure. Clients should continue to report changes, including changes to their household contact information.
​
To ensure your clients do not miss letters or notifications about their coverage, make sure their contact information is up to date in Washington Healthplanfinder or with Washington Connection.

Earlier this year,  the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging asked adults 50–80 about their perspectives on aging in place, their homes, and available social supports.  The majority of adults 50–80 (88%) said it is important to remain in their homes for as long as possible. However, many are not prepared to age in place.
 
​While about four in five older adults think their homes either definitely or probably have the features for them to be able to age in place, many reported their homes did not have common accessibility features, and nearly half reported they had given very little, if any, consideration to what home modifications would be needed.
 
Read the full report here.

Keep attendees connected as the exclusive Wi-Fi sponsor at the HCAOA Conference, September 17-19 in Orlando.. In this high visibility sponsorship, your corporate franchise, agency, or company logo will be front-and-center in the main registration and gathering areas where EVERY conference attendee will see it as they ask “what is the wifi password?”You will also be recognized on other marketing materials before, during, and after the conference.
​
You’ll also get:
 

• 8x10 Exhibit Booth
• Custom Wi-Fi login with sponsors information for all conference attendees
• Promotion of sponsor company
• Wi-Fi login instructions on all signage and in all session slides
• Banner Ad App

 
Conference sponsor ship are open to ALL members: agencies, associate members and vendors.
 
All conference sponsors will also receive:

• Sponsor ribbons for all registered company personnel
• Recognition in the Conference Program
• Company name and logo with link on the HCAOA Conference website
• Recognition on Leadership Conference Signage
• Complimentary use of one (1) pre-show & one (1) post-show Leadership Conference Attendee List
• First option on 2023 Sponsorships

 
Download the prospectus, then email Andrea to secure your sponsorship.

​The HCAOA Annual Conference will kick off with a SPARK, as “leadership imagineer” Simon Bailey delivers the opening keynote and tells attendees how to spark customer love through excellent service. In a world of information overload, his SPARK program ignites an emotional experience that causes customers to recommend your brand to their family and friends.

SPARK is a customer experience learning system based on Bailey’s 30+ years in the hospitality industry. As the former Sales Director for Disney Institute, Simon will teach you this easy and simple “SPARK” framework that you and your team can implement. Learn tangible examples and stories on how to embed the SPARK mindset into your organization.

Following Bailey’s opening keynote, the conference features two days of innovative breakout sessions and networking with home care thought leaders. Register now for early-bird pricing for the Annual Leadership Conference held Sept. 18-19 with a pre-conference on Sept. 17, in Orlando, FL. Complete details about the conference are here.

Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Candice L. Broce named Melody DeBussey as the Department’s new Deputy Commissioner for Family Independence, an office comprised of more than 2,500 employees. In this role, she will oversee the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and other self-sufficiency and family support activities. 

"Melody DeBussey is a brilliant public servant with the right policy expertise, fiscal track record, and forward-thinking leadership style to lead the State of Georgia's integrated eligibility system and 2,616-strong workforce,” said Commissioner Broce. “We are honored to welcome her to the Department of Human Services. Go Jackets!"

Before joining DHS, DeBussey served the nonpartisan Georgia Senate Budget and Evaluation Office as Senior Program Analyst and Deputy Director before becoming Director in 2013. She previously held roles in Home Depot’s corporate compliance department and served as a performance auditor with the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts. DeBussey holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology and served on the board of the National Association of Legislative Fiscal Offices. She and her husband, Jack, have one daughter.

Learn from four professionals at the top of the home care industry with our three-part series that shares the secrets to success from people who know.
 

• Scale your agency
• Align your team for growth
• Create a culture where employees thrive

 
Each webinar will be a one-hour crash course in growing your agency. Sign up for one or for all three.
 
Members: register for the entire three-part series for a discounted rate of $250, or register for the individual sessions below for $90 each.
 
Part 1: Mindsets Matter on May 5
With Jeff Wiberg, Family Resource Home Care
 
Part 2: Turn Fear into Action & Growth Will Come on June 9
With Andrea Cohen, Houseworks and Adam Blecker, Seniors in Place
 
Part 3: High Performing Environments Powered by Courageous Conversations on July 21
With Catherine Vergara, CareFor
 

Ann Mellen and Burton Peebles of Polsinelli Law Firm will be cover mandates in the workplace, plus our roster of speakers will cover other employment topics like the employee retention credit, and recruitment and retention.

We'll also cover legislative and policy updates, have lunch, and spend time networking. Join us before space fills up for this full day on May 16 at Georgian Terrace Hotel.
 

• News & Chapter Updates - Eddie Grogan, CareMaster Medical Services, Chapter Chair
• Federal Update & Policy Priorities - Vicki Hoak, HCAOA CEO
• Mandates in the Workplace - Ann Mellen and Burton Peebles, Polsinelli Law Firm
• Leveraging the Employee Retention Credit - alliantgroup
• Department of Community Health - Michelle Robinson, MHA, Director
• Caregiver Recruitment and Retention - Maggie Keen, VP, myCNAjobs.com
• State Legislative Advocacy Update - Rusty Paul, HCAOA GA Chapter Lobbyist and Dave Lamb, HCAOA GA Legislative Chair
• Best Practices Roundtable Discussion - Beth Dow, Kelley McDougall, Ken Stavas, Brad Culp
• Marketing Your Private Homecare Business - Gary Zermuehlen, Consultant, Coach/Trainer, Simon, Inc.

 
The cost is $75 for members and $150 for non-members. Register now.

 The HCAOA Arizona Chapter will meet in-person from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on May 11 at the Westin Phoenix Downtown Hotel. HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak, CEO and VP, Government Relations Eric Reinarman, Esq., will be at the meeting in Phoenix to provide the inside scoop on all federal legislative and advocacy priorities, as well as what other states are doing that could be adapted in Arizona.
 
Other speakers include:

• The Role of Home Care in Patient Advocacy - Melissa Cardine, MSN, RN, BCPA, Patient Advocate, The Bridge RN Patient Advocates
• Labor Law Hot Topics - Josh Vaughn, Sarah Watt, and Andrea Lavelle, Littler 
• State Legislative & Advocacy Update - Bob Roth, HCAOA Board Member
• Leveraging the Employee Retention Tax Credit - Missy Waites, Director, alliantgroup
• Finding the Right Private Pay & Medicaid Mix - Andrea Cohen, House Works

Lunch will be provided, and attendees will have the opportunity to network with colleagues and vendors. The registration fee is $40 for HCAOA members and $80 for non-members. Register here.

Home care providers in Washington should plan to attend the one-day conference for the HCAOA Washington Chapter on Tuesday, May 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You’ll learn the latest on employment issues and labor law, caregiver recruitment, tax credits available for home care agencies, and how technology is changing the business. The event includes lunch and plenty of opportunities to network.

Here’s what to expect:

• Retention is Recruiting - Clayton Foutch, Home Matters Caregiving 
• Harnessing Technology to Reinvent Growth & Excellence in Home Care - Alon Brener, Chief Revenue Officer, Sensi.Ai   
• Leveraging the Employee Retention Credit - Missy Waites, alliantgroup
• Advocacy Update - Jeff Wiberg, HCAOA Board Member, and Leslie Emerick, Chapter Lobbyist
• Labor & Employment Law Hot Topics
• Washington Chapter Update - Sharla Bode, Chapter Chair
• HCAOA Update & New Member Benefits - Jennifer Battista, HCAOA COO

 
Click here to download a printable conference flyer.
 
A discounted overnight rate $174 is available for conference attendees at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center. Call (206) 244-4800 to reserve by May 2.

Last week, more than 60 members of the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter met for a networking and education event, including a presentation by FordHarrison Attorney Sami Asaad  on recent labor and employment laws affecting home care agencies such as salary range disclosure, wage history and age disclosure bans, and paid family and medical leave.

Eric Reinarman, Esq., Vice President of Government Relations for HCAOA, provided an update on advocacy and the status of federal legislation, including the President’s 2023 budget proposal, workforce training and immigration reform.
 
Marlene Chickerella, managing partner of B&M Homemaking in West Haven and chair of the Chapter’s DSS Medicaid Committee, discussed the status of Medicaid reimbursement and the committee’s efforts in advocating successfully for an increase in rates for home care providers.
 
HCAOA Connecticut lobbyist Matthew Hallisey discussed the status of the Chapter’s legislative and public policy priorities and how members can participate in the Chapter’s advocacy program. With only a couple of weeks remaining in the regular legislative session (it adjourns Wednesday, May 4), he urged attendees to contact their legislators directly or through the HCAOA legislative alert  and urge them to oppose House Bill 5332. The bill would ban nonsolicitation agreements in home care.
 
The program was sponsored by Sensi.ai, an in-home virtual care-agent.
 
The next meeting for the CT Chapter is Wednesday, May 18 at 12 p.m. ET via Zoom for a discussion of making the Medicaid program more sustainable featuring Department of Social Services officials. Click here for details.

California Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, a Democrat from the San Gabriel Valley, recently introduced AB2175, which would establish a California Wandering Prevention Task Force.

Individuals with a cognitive impairment, including those with Alzheimer’s, related dementias, and autism are at a substantial risk of wandering away from their homes. Ensuring safety for these populations is costly, time consuming, and often results in poor outcomes once they have begun to wander. AB2175 seeks to provide a statewide strategy to help one of California’s most vulnerable populations.
 
The task force would include 20 members. The HCAOA California Chapter is working to ensure it has a seat on the task force so that our voice can be heard on this important issue.